Cishek says rehab on right track

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Steve Cishek had his second day of playing catch on flat ground Thursday, and everything continued to go well as he recovers from last October's microfracture left hip surgery.
"I'm playing catch every other day," Cishek said. "I expect to throw again in another two days and keep building up my hip strength."
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Though he admitted he was initially overambitious in thinking he could be ready to pitch for the Mariners on Opening Day, he has new goals and expectations for Spring Training, knowing he will still be on the road to recovery when his teammates head north in April.
"I'd like to be pitching in Spring Training games," Cishek said of his new target. "It'll take a little longer before I'm ready to pitch in regular-season games, but I'd like to get that far before the end of the Cactus League games.
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Cishek pitched 64 innings in 62 games for the Mariners last season, posting a 2.81 ERA and striking out 76 while saving 25 games.
Seattle starts its Cactus League season Saturday, playing a charity game against the Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. Aríel Miranda starts for the Mariners and is expected to pitch two innings, followed by Cody Martin and Ryan Weber.